Tender

  • Share to Microsoft Teams

Merchant Payment Services

ENERGIA GROUP NI HOLDINGS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

14 Mar 2025 at 11:37

Summary of the contracting process

Energia Group NI Holdings Limited is seeking tenders for Merchant Payment Services to facilitate the processing of customer card payments in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This procurement process is in the tender stage, with key deadlines including an expression of interest deadline by 4th April 2025 and the award period ending on 14th August 2025. The contract will commence on 1st September 2025. The project, categorized under financial consultancy and transaction processing services, involves a substantial contract value estimated at GBP 6.5 million, extending up to GBP 7.8 million. This tender operates under a competitive flexible procedure, requiring stages of compliance checks, conditions of participation, and invitation to tender submissions, among others.

This tender offers a significant business growth opportunity, particularly for companies specializing in financial transaction processing and payment gateway services. Businesses equipped with PCI-compliant processing platforms capable of handling Visa, Mastercard, and Electron transactions will find this contract well-suited. The selected supplier must ensure a seamless, 24/7/365 payment processing experience, including an online portal for transaction and reconciliation reports. Companies that can provide robust management information and performance metrics, while accommodating multiple currencies, are encouraged to participate. This contract also includes potential extensions, making it an attractive engagement for firms looking for long-term opportunities in the utilities sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Merchant Payment Services

Notice Description

Energia Group is seeking to procure Merchant Payment services (Merchant Services), for the processing of customer card payments within both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Energia wishes to offer their customers an efficient payment processing experience using a streamlined uninterrupted process for making card payments. Energia currently operates a payment service process, using their own Payment Service Provider, which involves the transfer of funds paid by their customers via debit and credit bank cards, to a third-party processing platform owned by the Supplier. The Supplier must be able to facilitate the transaction process by attaining and receipting information from the customer, receive authorisation from the bank approving the funds transaction, collecting the funds from the bank and then transferring the payment to Energia. The Supplier will be required to ensure that the transaction funds are approved by the customer's bank and acceptance of the combined settlement of card funding transactions (authorisation process). As a minimum, Energia will require the suppliers processing platform to transfer debit and credit cards from Visa, Mastercard and Electron. All platforms must be Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/ (settlement process). Energia requires a platform that will accommodate their customers choice of payment card options and differing currencies. The platform must be available to process payments made by customers 24x7x365. Energia also require an online portal for the receipt of daily transaction information and reconciliation reports. For ongoing management information, Energia will require the Supplier to be able to populate management information containing monthly and quarterly performance metrics, scheme updates, compliance updates, new / upcoming solutions and changes within the industry. The provision of Merchant Payment Services is expected to commence in September 2025, although the Supplier will be expected to work with Energia Group to facilitate the implementation of the Merchant Payment Service prior to commencement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract awarded will be provided for an initial period of three years, with two optional extensions for periods of up to twelve months each, to be exercised at Energia Group's discretion. The maximum total duration of the service provision is five years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ed32
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009394-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services


CPV Codes

66170000 - Financial consultancy, financial transaction processing and clearing-house services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Mar 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
2028-03-14

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENERGIA GROUP NI HOLDINGS LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@energiagroup.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT9 5NF
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Upper Malone
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04ed32-2025-03-14T11:37:44Z",
    "date": "2025-03-14T11:37:44Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04ed32",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-NI033250",
            "name": "ENERGIA GROUP NI HOLDINGS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "NI033250"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PDPH-4346-JGHQ"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Greenwood House, 64 Newforge Lane",
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "postalCode": "BT9 5NF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKN06"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@energiagroup.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.energiagroup.com/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "privateUtility",
                        "description": "Private utility"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "id": "GB-NIR",
                        "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-NI033250",
        "name": "ENERGIA GROUP NI HOLDINGS LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "EG25001",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Merchant Payment Services",
        "description": "Energia Group is seeking to procure Merchant Payment services (Merchant Services), for the processing of customer card payments within both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Energia wishes to offer their customers an efficient payment processing experience using a streamlined uninterrupted process for making card payments. Energia currently operates a payment service process, using their own Payment Service Provider, which involves the transfer of funds paid by their customers via debit and credit bank cards, to a third-party processing platform owned by the Supplier. The Supplier must be able to facilitate the transaction process by attaining and receipting information from the customer, receive authorisation from the bank approving the funds transaction, collecting the funds from the bank and then transferring the payment to Energia. The Supplier will be required to ensure that the transaction funds are approved by the customer's bank and acceptance of the combined settlement of card funding transactions (authorisation process). As a minimum, Energia will require the suppliers processing platform to transfer debit and credit cards from Visa, Mastercard and Electron. All platforms must be Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/ (settlement process). Energia requires a platform that will accommodate their customers choice of payment card options and differing currencies. The platform must be available to process payments made by customers 24x7x365. Energia also require an online portal for the receipt of daily transaction information and reconciliation reports. For ongoing management information, Energia will require the Supplier to be able to populate management information containing monthly and quarterly performance metrics, scheme updates, compliance updates, new / upcoming solutions and changes within the industry. The provision of Merchant Payment Services is expected to commence in September 2025, although the Supplier will be expected to work with Energia Group to facilitate the implementation of the Merchant Payment Service prior to commencement.",
        "status": "active",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "66170000",
                        "description": "Financial consultancy, financial transaction processing and clearing-house services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKN",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 7800000,
            "amount": 6500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "It is envisaged, the CFP will be conducted in the following stages. Please note, stages are subject to change. Stages outlined below may not be availed of even though they were intended to be at the COP stage. This will be at Energia's discretion. STAGE 1 - COMPLETENESS / COMPLIANCE CHECK Responses will be subjected to a check to ensure that the Supplier has provided a complete and compliant response to all questions and requirements requested. Failure to submit a complete/compliant response may result in the Supplier being excluded from the process. STAGE 2 - CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION Those Suppliers that submit a complete and compliant response, will have their response assessed against the criteria stated in Annex 3 - COP Assessment and Supplier Response. The Supplier must commit in their response that they are able to meet the criteria. Energia will use Stage 2 to confirm that neither the Supplier, nor any related persons within its corporate group, associate persons relied on to meet the COP or sub-contractors are listed on the Cabinet Office debarment list. If any such entities are on the debarment list, Energia will consider its obligations under the Act. Energia will notify Suppliers in writing of whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted to participate in stage 3. STAGE 3 - INVITATION TO SUBMIT INITIAL TENDERS SUBMISSIONS Shortlisted Suppliers will receive an invitation to tender from Energia requesting them to submit an initial tender response. The initial tender response will be assessed for the purpose to reduce the number of Suppliers invited to participate in dialogue/negotiation and/or inform the content/agenda for dialogue/negotiations. This stage will include 1. repeating the process outlined in Stage 2 to comply with the Act debarment list obligations. 2. Key Contractual Requirements documents will be issued. Energia expect these as a minimum to be embedded into the Suppliers T&C'S. 3. an assessment of the initial tenders against the criteria outlined in Annex 3 - COP Assessment and Supplier Response. 4. following assessment of the initial tenders, Suppliers will be selected to participate in the negotiation/dialogue stage as set out below in stage 4. 5. once the assessment is concluded, Suppliers will be notified in whether they have been invited to participate in Stage 4. Energia intends to shortlist a maximum of 5 Suppliers to participate in the dialogue/negotiation stand. Energia reserve the right to award the contract to the preferred supplier based on the assessment of their initial tender without undertaking any negotiation or dialogue which may have been intended to be part of the process at the start of the CFP. STAGE 4 - INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN DIALOGUE/ TO NEGOTIATE Shortlisted Suppliers will receive an invitation from Energia to participate in dialogue/negotiate meetings. This invitation will describe how the dialogue/negotiation will be conducted, including the location and proposed dates for the relevant meetings. This stage will include 1. Providing any new information made available to Suppliers. 2. conclusion around the closure of the dialogue and/or negotiations. Energia reserves the right to amend/refine the tender award (technical/quality/pricing schedule) criteria throughout the procurement process. The contract(s) will be awarded to the bidder(s) that submit to Energia Group the most advantageous tender(s) (MAT). A maximum of 100 marks will be available in the scoring of submissions. The award criteria and associated weightings which will be used to determine this are as follows: No Evaluation Criteria Weighting 1 Technical (Quality) 40% 2 Financial 50% 3 Legal (Quality) 10% Total Weighting 100% Energia reserves the right to amend/refine the above existing tender criteria or criteria weightings, add or amend sub criteria and/or add detail to the existing criteria throughout the procurement process."
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://procurement.energiagroup.com In order to get you set up on the portal, if you wish to respond can you please provide the following information: Applicant Company Name: Applicant Address: Primary Contact Name: Primary Contact Email Address: Primary Contact Telephone Number: Secondary Contact Name: Secondary Contact Email Address: Secondary Contact Telephone Number: As per the CoP pack please use MerchantServicesProcurement@energiagroup.com email address for all further correspondence.",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2025-04-04T12:00:00+01:00",
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-03-21T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-08-14T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 7800000,
                    "amount": 6500000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Financial",
                            "description": "Financial 50%",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical",
                            "description": "Technical (Quality) 40%",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 40,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Legal",
                            "description": "Legal (Quality) 10%",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 10,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "secondStage": {
                    "minimumCandidates": 1,
                    "maximumCandidates": 5
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "description": "The contract(s) will be awarded to the bidder(s) that submit to Energia Group the most advantageous tender(s) (MAT). A maximum of 100 marks will be available in the scoring of submissions. The award criteria and associated weightings which will be used to determine this are as follows: No Evaluation Criteria Weighting 1 Technical (Quality) 40% 2 Financial 50% 3 Legal (Quality) 10% Total Weighting 100%",
                            "forReduction": true
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2025-09-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2030-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The contract awarded will be provided for an initial period of three years, with two optional extensions for periods of up to twelve months each, to be exercised at Energia Group's discretion. The maximum total duration of the service provision is five years."
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "future",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "accessDetails": "https://procurement.energiagroup.com In order to get you set up on the portal, if you wish to respond can you please provide the following information: Applicant Company Name: Applicant Address: Primary Contact Name: Primary Contact Email Address: Primary Contact Telephone Number: Secondary Contact Name: Secondary Contact Email Address: Secondary Contact Telephone Number: As per the CoP pack please use MerchantServicesProcurement@energiagroup.com email address for all further correspondence."
            },
            {
                "id": "009394-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009394-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-03-14T11:37:44Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "hasRecurrence": true,
        "recurrence": {
            "dates": [
                {
                    "startDate": "2028-03-14T23:59:59Z"
                }
            ]
        }
    },
    "language": "en"
}